The home of Anchor Butter has been surprised and delighted at the level of response from a visit of Wiltshire Federation of Women’s Institutes to the Westbury Dairy.
Over 180 members expressed an interest in visiting the dairy, requiring Butter Production Manager, George Nicholls to add an extra three visits in 2015 with more planned for 2016!
During the 100th anniversary year of the WI, Arla’s Westbury Dairy has opened its doors to interested members of Wiltshire Federation to share with them its pride in one of the UK’s largest butter factories and the home of Anchor Butter.
George said: “We didn’t want to let anyone down so extended it to five events across September, October and November, with more to follow in 2016. The first two events have been a great success - the visitors got to tour the facility and received a short presentation and everyone left with some Anchor butter for their Victoria sponges! Westbury Dairies has an important role in the local community and the response from the ladies was very positive. They were impressed by our environmental and welfare standards as well as the fact that Arla Foods is farmer-owned and Anchor is made in their county.”
Shauna Bodman, Chairman of Workshops Committee Women's Institute said: "The Wiltshire Federation of Women's Institutes recently organised a visit to Westbury Dairies to see the various processes milk goes through once it has been received from the farm. So keen were the ladies from Wiltshire to attend, numerous visits have been organised this year, with more to come in the New Year! George warmly welcomed our members and each visit has been extremely informative giving an insight into how the dairy processes milk from the local farming community into butter and milk powder. Members commented on how interesting they found it and were impressed that the dairy, which is owned by a farmer cooperative, ensures fair pricing and support to Wiltshire farmers; this is a continuing WI campaign supporting rural communities and especially that of farming and milk production."